"Eugenio Fernandi was born in Pisa and raised in Turin, where he began his vocal studies with Aureliano Pertile. He later entered the opera school at La Scala in Milan, and began appearing there in small roles. His first major role was as Giovanni Battista in Virgilio Mortari's LA FIGLIA DI DIAVOLO in 1954, followed by the Duke in RIGOLETTO and Pinkerton in MADAMA BUTTERFLY. He also sang with success at La Fenice in Venice, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence, and the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. In 1957, he made his debut at the Vienna State Opera as Cavaradossi in TOSCA, later singing Alfredo Germont, Rodolfo, Riccardo, and Radames. He appeared as Don Carlos at the Salzburg Festival, in 1958 and 1960. He sang at all the major Italian houses and made many guest appearances abroad, especially in France, Switzerland, South America and the United States. His principal roles included Pinkerton, Cavaradossi, Calaf, Rodolfo, Alfredo Germont, Don Carlos, Radames, Gounod's Faust and Saint-Saens' Samson. He joined the Metropolitan Opera as a leading tenor on 19 February, 1958, debuting there as Pinkerton. Of that performance, a 3 March, 1958, TIME MAGAZINE review noted that Fernandi 'belted out thundering, on-target salvos of sound that rocked the house', further praising that 'physically and vocally it is surely the handsomest BUTTERFLY ever mounted on a U.S. stage'. From 1958 to 1971, Fernandi sang eight seasons with the Met in thirteen roles, including Mario Cavaradossi, Edgardo, Enzo, Ismaele, Arrigo, etc."

- Echoes-Sentinel, 15 August, 1991

"Tenor Eugenio Fernandi is probably best known as Calaf in Callas's recording of TURANDOT....Were he still singing today, he would likely be one of the great ones....Bongiovanni's ongoing series of releases devoted to the great and the not-so-great thus continues. It sheds light on some little-known, faintly remembered singers. Taken in toto, the series has great documentary value."